Subject: Hoary Reds
Date: Jan 2 17:17:17 2002
From: Eugene Hunn - enhunn at attbi.com


Steve and Tweets,

I've since restudied the Czaplak's article and it only confirms my initial opinion that there were indeed at least one male and one female Hoary Redpolls in the large flock on the CBC. They were presumably exilipes. Though I did not observe the rump (which after many hours of observation of not only redpolls but Spizella sparrows, etc., I have only occasionally briefly glimpsed on the odd chance they should spread their wings while exposing the hindquarters to my enquiring eye.

The birds showed the undertail covert patterning precisely as Czaplak describes (none on the female, one hairline streak on the male), the very limited, "wispy" flank streaking (virtually absent in the male), the very pale cheeks, the pale gray back and scapulars, the latter broadly margined by white. The male at least seemed to have a distinctly shorter bill and steeper forehead. The pink wash on the breast of the male was very pale.

I have seen Hoaries on several occasions both in Washington and Montana (as well as breeding plumaged birds in Alaska and at Churchill -- which doesn't help much here). My impression is that Hoaries probably constitute 1% of the redpoll flocks. They are certainly not rare in terms of their global populations, in fact, they may be as numerous as Commons (I have not idea, but they breed all across the arctic). Most of the time -- as with flickers and "Iceland" gulls, one simply doesn't have the opportunity nor the patience to devote the effort to getting the perfect views, and having the opportunity to have others confirm your impressions. The conditions last Saturday were ideal, short of a feeder bird.

The other observers with me were Ken Jacobson, Melissa Keidley, Mark Moon, and two unidentified birders who happened to be in the vicinity.

Gene.
----- Original Message -----
From: SGMlod at aol.com
To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 8:43 PM
Subject: Hoary Reds


Hello All

I apologize for keeping on about redpoll ID.

There are two races of Hoary Redpoll: hornemanni and exilipes. The former breeds in Greenland and occasionally occurs in eastern North America. Some member of this race can be very white (and somewhat large). I've seen one of these. It really stood out.

Unfortunately, most of the Hoaries in North America (and probably all of the Hoaries out west) are exilipes. These look VERY MUCH like the pale end of Common Redpoll variation. Such birds are unlikely to be obvious to the casual glance. They will NOT stand out dramatically among a hoard of Commons -- hence the existence of so very many articles on redpoll ID and such lengthy debates at bird records committee meetings.

For those interested, please look at Czaplak's article in Birding, referenced in a recent post by Ian Paulson. This article is both informative and humbling.

Cheers and Happy New Years
Steven Mlodinow
SGMlod at aol.com